Rural Leader Magazine July 2024

JULY 2024

Cover Story

Five Money-saving Strategies to Beat the Inflation Blues pg. 9 GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JULY 2024 1

Contents

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Kuanita E. Murphy, PhD Rural Leader Magazine, LLC is a digital publication that highlights every day people doing extraordinary things nationally and abroad. www.RuralLeaderMag.com www.GetRuralLeaderMag.com

About Us

Launched in March 2014, Rural Leader Magazine, LLC is a digital publication with a mission to highlight every day people doing extraordinary things in business, education, music, community, art, sports, and leadership nationally and abroad.

Rural Leader Magazine honors exemplary individuals on a variety of levels, such as the 20 under 20 Honors, 40 under 40 Honors, Best Small Town Restaurant, Small Town America’s 100 Most Influential People, the Scholars of Collegiate Distinction, Fifty under Fifty, and the Eagle Elite Club.— Reproduction in any manner, in whole or in part, in English, or other languages, is prohibited without written consent.

Send editorial ideas to Kuanita Murphy, PhD, Editor-in-Chief editor@ruralleadermag.com Contact Us info@ruralleadermag.com editor@ruralleadermag.com ruralleadermagazine@gmail.com

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6 Americans say an hour of their time is worth $240, according to new Empower research COVER STORY 9 Five Money-saving Strategies to Beat the Inflation Blues

10 Outdoor play each day will help to keep the screens away 13 Giving Health

14 2024 is the year to Modernize Government Services 17 Small business growth made easy with AI 18 Contest Rewards Bearded Men Who Combine Good Grooming with Goodwill 21 Five great tips for hosting your summer golden hour gathering

Editor’s Note Dear Readers, Inside this issue, there are a number of great articles about leadership best practices, building positive self-esteem and productivity! We hope you enjoy this issue.

As always, I hope you enjoy this issue and continue to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Thanks again for your continual support!

Sincerely, Kuanita E. Murphy, PhD Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

What you do matters. @RuralLeaderMag

Tell us what you think about our publications, if you have a great idea for a story, or to just share. We may print your comments in Rural Leader Magazine. By sending us your comments, you’re giving permission to call you for an interview. Please be sure to include your name, address, email address, and phone number so we can reach you. Write to us at info@RuralLeaderMag.com—

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Americans say an hour of their time is worth $240, according to new Empower research Time is money, and there’s a premium: Americans say their time is worth $240 per hour, on average, according to new research from Empower, a financial services company. Based on a standard 40-hour week, that puts the perceived value at $499,200 per year - nearly eight times higher than the average U.S. salary of $59,384.1 One third of people set the price at under $50 per hour, though 1 in 4 Millennials value their time at over $500 per hour - the highest of any generation (just 6% of Boomers name that rate).

Many Americans are racing against the clock when it comes to financial goals: half think they’re running out of time to save for retirement, even though 44% say they started putting money away early enough.

Another 43% wish they could go back in time to start saving sooner, and half (48%) would rather have a longer retirement period with less money, than retire later in life with more.

People may be further along than they think.

According to Empower Personal Dashboardâ„¢ data, the average 401(k) balance clocks in at $291,810 and for people in their 50s approaching retirement age, the number jumps to $580,2592 - one key measure of overall personal savings and investments.

Additional key findings: * Spending time wisely: The average price of 60 minutes varies: Millennials say it’s worth $328.84 per hour, followed by Gen Z at $266.92, Gen X at $215.90 and Boomers at $137.19. Based on this study’s findings of how Americans value their time, two hours 6

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of meetings at work cost close to $500 per person; catching nightly Z’s costs nearly $2,000 a day (or close to $60,000 a month). * Less is more: 1 in 4 people (26%) are willing to take a 15% pay cut to gain more free time. 40% would rather pay to make life easier right now than to save and have more money later and more than 2 in 5 say outsourcing household tasks gives them a better work/life balance (41%). * Cost of convenience: 36% would rather pay more to get an item delivered instead of driving 10 minutes to get it. A third of Gen Z (30%) would pay up to $5,000 per year to save time not doing everyday tasks like cleaning and yard work, and 36% of Millennials would shell out up to $10,000 for someone to take on in-house chores and cook meals. * AI to save time: 21% would use AI to recommend money moves to plan for retirement, help pay bills on time (25%) and make a budget by examining personal financial accounts (23%). * Time on money: 26% would spend $5,000 per year to have someone else manage their long-term financials, investments, and savings. More than a third of Americans admit to procrastinating money tasks like paying their bills.

* The luxury of time: 6 in 10 people (63%) “feel wealthy” if they have enough time to spend with family and friends. Nearly a third feel comfortable taking on debt if it buys more free time (29%) or a memorable experience (29%). Nearly 2 in 5 say saving time is more important than saving money (37%).

Sign of the times. Americans are having to work alongside the wider economy on their journey to hit their goals. Though 30% of adults are not keeping track of any financial “signs of the times,” around a quarter are keeping an eye on shrinkflation (24%), as product sizes get smaller for the same or more cost.

It can be a struggle, as more than 3 in 4 Americans believe they’re doing as much as they can to save money while shopping (76%). Some 22% of Americans are also keeping track of their ability to retire and when (22%), as nearly half (48%) worry about how they’ll pay for expenses once they’re no longer working.

Americans are watching the strength of the job market (21%), and cryptocurrency (19%). The same amount are keeping an eye on volatility in the stock market. Compounding gains can play an essential role in building wealth and 3 in 10 people say they would have invested in a popular stock if they could go back in time.

The time is now. Time is of the essence as people work toward streamlining their lives and focusing on what matters most to them, amid commitments across work and home that can affect their financial happiness. More than half of Millennials (52%) and 37% overall think saving time is more important than saving money.

For many, getting advice early on is key: nearly 1 in 5 would have worked with a financial professional sooner. Overall, Americans remain optimistic, with 78% saying it’s never too late to start focusing on your finances.— Methodology Empower commissioned the “Time is Money” survey, which is based on online survey responses from 2,204 Americans ages 18+ and fielded by Morning Consult from March 11-14, 2024.

1 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dec 2023. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages.

2 Anonymized user data from the Empower Personal Dashboardâ„¢ as of March 2024.

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* Clocking in: 44% say they wish they could work part-time, but can’t afford it. More than a third (32%) say they want to start their own business, but don’t have the time.

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COVER STORY

Five Money-saving Strategies to Beat the Inflation Blues The rising cost of goods and services across the U.S. has many Americans feeling financial stress.

While you can’t directly influence the inflation rate, you can find ways to reduce your spending on things like insurance, groceries, your phone, gas and streaming services. Check out these five money-saving strategies that can help you beat inflation.

1. Shop around for the best insurance deals. When was the last time you shopped around for car, renters’ and home insurance? If it’s been a while, carve out time to search for a better deal. Most importantly, don’t settle for the first quote you receive. According to a ValuePenguin survey, nearly three-quarters of Americans have shopped around for insurance, and many have saved money as a result.

Also, many companies allow you to bundle car and home or renters’ insurance for a discount. In fact, you could save an average of 18% by bundling your home and auto policies.

2. Switch up your phone plan for savings. If you’ve been with the same phone plan for a while, it might be time to explore other options. Many phone plan providers offer competitive rates and deals to new customers who make the switch.

Keep in mind that you shouldn’t just switch to any plan. Pick a carrier that will help you save AND treat you well. For example, Metro by T-Mobile - the leader in prepaid - has debuted its Metro Flex plan.

New customers can receive a free 5G phone when they join, and they’ll get the same great deals as new customers in as soon as 12 months when they trade in their phones.

Most phone providers only give you a free phone when you join. That’s what sets Metro Flex apart; they take care of existing customers. Additionally, Metro Flex customers can get benefits like Google One 100GB, free stuff and deals every week through T-Mobile Tuesdays, unlimited texts to 210+ countries and destinations and Amazon Prime included (a savings of $14.99/month) with the Metro Flex Plus plan.

Metro is the first and only prepaid wireless plan that gives new and existing customers the same fair treatment. To learn more, visit MetroByT-Mobile. com/MetroFlex.

3. Choose generic brands at the grocery store. If you want to cut your grocery bill, opt for generic brands instead of name brands. You’ll be surprised at how much you can save without sacrificing quality.

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Consumer Reports found that 76% of generic food items tasted as good as their brand-name counterparts. How much can you save by switching to generic? The report found that depending on the food item, the generic brand cost as much as 72% less per serving than name brands.

4. Embrace alternative transportation methods In April alone, gasoline increased by 2.8%. Fuel costs can add up quickly if you commute to work or school. However, you can save on fuel costs by using alternative forms of transportation. According to the American Public Transportation Association, riders can save more than $13,000 a year by using public transit.

Aside from public transit, you can also consider biking, walking or carpooling with friends or neighbors. You can even use a combination of these transportation methods to save and get to where you want to go.

5. Bundle up your subscriptions. How many streaming subscriptions do you pay for? According to Forbes, the average American spends $46 per month on streaming services. That may not seem like a high number, but it can quickly add up over time.

While you could cancel subscriptions, an easier and more convenient way to save while still enjoying entertainment is to look for bundles. Just like with car and home insurance, bundling streaming subscriptions can give you a discount.

You may even already have access to a subscription service and may be paying double. If you’re a Metro Flex Plus customer, you get access to Amazon Prime as part of your plan. That’s a savings of $14.99 per month!

Prime members enjoy exceptional value with access to Amazon’s fast and free delivery, enormous selection, exclusive deals and shopping events, savings across health care, prescriptions and groceries, as well as movies, books, games, photo storage and more.

Saving money doesn’t have to be difficult. Use these five tips and see how much you can save. Remember, every dollar counts!—

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ting a timer and letting them know that once they’re done, it will be time to play outside. Let them pick out their shoes and give them two choices of activity so they feel empowered and in control.

Experts at Kiddie Academy® Educational Child Care recommend several outdoor activities developed from their proprietary Life Essentials® curriculum to help parents get children excited about spending time outside. * Infants can enjoy several outdoor activities like tummy time on a blanket in the park, wiggling their toes in the grass and listening to bird sounds. * Toddlers benefit from going on nature walks and discovering items like pinecones and leaves and helping their caregivers plant flowers, fruits and vegetables. * For active preschoolers and older children, make an obstacle course challenge with chalk and other items like tactile discs, hula hoops, pool noodles and more. Older children also enjoy searching for bugs

and creating art from things found in nature.

Unstructured outdoor play, like spending time in the sandbox or on a playground, includes fun activities that give children of all ages the opportunity to explore independently. Parents should feel free to sit back and just observe these times, making sure their children are safe while allowing them to discover the magic of outdoor play on their own.

“In addition to enhancing well-being, outdoor play helps children understand their role in the world so they can be good stewards of our planet,” said Samina Hooda, co-owner of Kiddie Academy of Mercer Crossing in Dallas.

Help your children develop a love of the outdoors at an early age and watch them flourish - emotionally, physically and intellectually.—

Outdoor play each day will help to keep the screens away It’s difficult to distance ourselves from screens; they follow us everywhere - in the car, into stores, at restaurants and all around our houses. Children often become reliant on screens for entertainment, and parents sometimes use screens as a distraction.

While there’s high-quality, educational digital content available, even too much of a good thing can be detrimental. It’s important for parents to make sure their children are experiencing a well-rounded mix of free play, both inside and outside, along with technology usage.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend children under the age of 18 months have no screen time except for video chatting, and children ages 2 to 5 spend no more than one hour per day watching a device.

The harmful effects of screen time have been well researched. In fact, evidence suggests that even television shows claiming to be stimulating and educational are not as effective for infants and toddlers as 10

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face-to-face interactions with a caregiver. Too much screen time has also been linked to poor sleep, delays in language and social skills, obesity, behavior problems and more. Allowing children to play in a setting that is unstructured, open-ended and encourages exploration is more beneficial than placing them in front of a device.

So, what can parents do to help their children escape the all-consuming screen? Get outside!

According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), outdoor play is essential for the healthy development of children.

Not only does outdoor play promote physical health but it also helps children make connections to the real world and develops their STEM skills. Plus, fresh air and exposure to sunlight have numerous health benefits for children, including stress reduction and better sleep.

Children can sometimes be resistant to heading outside, especially if they’re interrupted during screen time. Head off potential complaints by set-

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2024 is the year to Modernize Government Services OpenGov and Cox Enterprises are bringing the cloud to your city, county, and state By Claudia Arriaga, SVP of Customer Success and Support, OpenGov One of the long-term - but somewhat hidden - effects of the COVID-19 pandemic is the way it fundamentally changed how cities and counties serve their residents. As public servants swiftly shifted to remote work and led the charge on safety protocols like physical distancing, many city halls were closed to visitors. This meant that they had to figure out how to deliver essential services in a new way - moving many of them online. Instead of going to the clerk’s office to file a permit, contractors could do it 14

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through their community’s website. Instead of calling someone sitting at a desk in the public works office, residents could go online to share a photo of a pothole that needed attention.

THE PERFECT STORM. Now, four years later, a wave of modernization ripples through our government, expanding these digital services. What’s driving it: a perfect storm of increasing retirements, labor shortages, cybersecurity attacks, aging legacy software systems, and more.

THE WINDS OF CHANGE. Going digital enables cities and counties to meet the increasing needs of the public efficiently and equitably. That’s why Cox Enterprises invested $1.8B in cloud software provider OpenGov to accelerate the effort to bring the cloud to government. It’s an important signal to our nation’s public servants that they’re heading in the right direction as they strive to operate more efficiently, adapt to change, and strengthen public trust.

Nearly 1,900 local and state governments in America already use OpenGov to run the budgeting and finance office, procurement processes, and operational workflows in public works, community development, and more. From Los Angeles preparing for the 2028 Olympics to Cocoa Beach keeping pace with economic development, cities and counties of all sizes are leveraging the cloud to engage residents, run meetings online, and digitize so people can get more done faster.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED. To find out if your community is among them, visit your city or county website to check which services are available online.

Start by looking for links in the following three areas: 1. Permit applications. Fewer than 1 in 5 public servants say that residents are satisfied with their permitting and licensing process, according to OpenGov’s 2024 State of Local Government Report. This is due to limited hours at the clerk’s office, the inability to apply online, and the lack of visibility into where their application stands in the approval process. With

24/7 permitting and online payments, these barriers are gone.

2. Resident service requests. If contacting your public works department makes you want to pull your hair out, this one’s for you. Check your community’s website for a link to submit service requests, sometimes called 311. You’ll see a way to efficiently communicate your concern, and then sign up for notifications via email or text if you want to stay informed about the progress of your request - from receipt to resolution.

3. Budget books. Many taxpayers wonder what is happening with their city or county budget. A quarter of community leaders cite improving transparency as a top priority this year, but struggle to follow through on that promise. Check your community’s website for an online budget book that highlights spending by category in a way that’s easy to understand and aligned with the priorities in your community.

The good news: there is now more funding available to local governments than we’ve seen in generations. Now is the time for local administrators to future-proof their communities by modernizing each of their digital infrastructures.—

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Small business growth made easy with AI If your small business doesn’t have an online presence, you’re getting in the way of your own success.

According to a new survey by small business services platform GoDaddy, 89% of consumers say it is important for a small business to have a website, yet nearly a quarter of small businesses (24%) don’t.

Maybe you’ve considered building a website or creating social media accounts for your small business, but lack the time or experience to do so. It’s not surprising. Venture Forward, a small business research initiative, surveyed 6,000 entrepreneurs in the U.S. and U.K. and found that 42% of them cite difficulty marketing their businesses as a top challenge.

Artificial intelligence, however, is changing the game for small businesses. Emerging generative AI tools can instantly and inexpensively provide customized help to small businesses. GoDaddy survey respondents indicated they believe AI can save them more than $4,000 and 300 hours of work per year.

Here’s how generative AI can help you create, build and grow your business’s online presence, even with limited tech skills and tight time constraints.

1. Create your brand. Whether starting a business from scratch or taking your brick-and-mortar business online, you’ll need some help creating your digital identity. For example, you may have a business name but no clue how to turn that into a memorable domain name. AI can help you get started on that journey instantly.

Even if you only have an inkling of an idea, a solution like GoDaddy Airoâ„¢ can recommend catchy domain names with just a quick description of your business. This may seem like a small step, but once you have a domain that resonates with your vision, all you have to do is register it, and your small busi-

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ness has officially gone digital.

2. Build your online presence. Now that you’re online, it’s time to build your business’s presence.

Plenty of platforms offer to do the heavy lifting when it comes to building a website. However, you’ll still need to design graphics and draft content to populate your site, taking more time away from running your business. Plus, that work doesn’t come naturally to everyone.

Instead of contracting with someone to develop your website, AI can be your web creator. AI solutions go as far as generating a fully built website with imagery and content to help you engage current and potential customers. From creating logos to professional email accounts to auto-generated product descriptions, there’s a lot you can do with AI - even register your business as an LLC. 3. Grow your customer base. Once you’ve established your website, it’s time to turn your attention to growing your business by capturing new customers.

In the modern world, that means expanding the places your business shows up online.

This is not a one-and-done task. It takes continuous - weekly if not daily - attention.

Instead of taking on these tasks yourself, use AI to build email campaigns, a social media calendar and low-cost ads to draw traffic to your website. These simple activities are essential to the longevity of your business.

Are you ready to let AI work for you? GoDaddy Airoâ„¢ makes leveraging the power of AI easy for anyone wanting to start a business or take their existing one to the next level. Visit GoDaddy.com/ai to see everything generative AI can do for you.—

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to increase the kids’ love of learning and literacy,” he explained.

How to Enter. From now until June 30, 2024, men with beards can submit a video of themselves either explaining or demonstrating how they support a charity on the contest entry page at https://bit.ly/ BenevolentBeards. They can also get to the page by visiting the @WahlGrooming Facebook or Instagram pages. What kind of charity? As long as it’s a 501(c) (3) organization with a goal to impact the world positively, all charities will be considered. So, whether you’re an animal advocate or helping humans, you have the chance to put your good grooming toward goodwill.

Following the entry period, 5 finalists will each win $500 for themselves, $500 for their charity and a NEW Wahl® PRO SERIES™ High Visibility

Trimmer. Things get really exciting in August when public votes help determine which finalist wins the Grand Prize of $20,000 for himself, and a visit from Wahl’s Mobile Barbershop to do a charity fundraising grooming event. At the event, barbers will offer the public FREE beard trims, and for every trim Wahl will donate $100 to the charity - up to $5,000.

No Beard, No Problem. Don’t have a beard? You can still be part of the excitement. Spread the word about the contest to your bearded friends. Vote for your favorite facial-haired finalist. Or, get on the benevolent bandwagon and find ways to volunteer yourself. No matter your talents or interests, there are so many charities that would love your help.—

Contest Rewards Bearded Men Who Combine Good Grooming with Goodwill Across the nation, whiskered men are making the world a bearder place to live; or in other words, they are contributing positively to their communities.

Whether they’re aiding the homeless or championing animal rights, their charitable endeavors - and their beards - have the chance to be recognized in the third annual Wahl ‘Benevolent Beards’ Contest. One Grand Prize winner will be presented with $20,000 for himself, and $5,000 for the charity of his choice.

He’ll also be crowned the new ‘Wahl Man of the Year,’ a moniker that boasts a bearded brotherhood spanning 17 years.

“There is no shortage of people who donate their time and energy to helping others, and the Benevolent Beards contest provides an excellent platform to discover and honor those individuals,” said Steven Yde, Vice President of North America Consumer at Wahl. “As a family-oriented company dedicated to 18

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community service, Wahl is excited to reward men who mirror our commitment in their own communities.”

Last Year’s Winner. The best part of this contest is the real-life impact it has. Just ask last year’s winner, Dr. Christopher McNeil from Kansas City, Missouri, whose selected charity, the Kansas City Public School Foundation, supports educational initiatives and impact programs like his ‘Books and Barbers’ program which provides haircuts, books, and mentorship to elementary school students.

According to McNeil, who is currently the Director of Career and Technical Education at Kansas City Public Schools, ‘Books and Barbers’ is about more than just free haircuts. “We try to recreate what’s special about barbershops by offering students a safe space where they can learn about life and glean wisdom from amazing mentors. It’s also a way for us GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JULY 2024 19

Five great tips for hosting your summer golden hour gathering

Summer is the season for spending your nights outdoors, whether by a cozy bonfire, in the backyard with a movie projector, or gathered around the porch table with family and friends. With a little forethought and some planning, your golden hour party can extend into the night and be the hit of the season. Here are five ideas for making your sunset soiree sensational.

1. Plan ahead. Summer calendars fill up fast. Get those invites out early so you can make sure your family and friends can attend. Bonus tip: Make it a weeknight! Summer is a great time to linger in the backyard during golden hour and beyond, so giving people something fabulous to do on a day they might not usually take advantage of is always a treat. By opting against a weekend night, your guests are more likely to be available.

2. Amp up the dinner party. To give your guests a more thoughtful experience, transform your outdoor dining area with a seasonal tablescape, unique lighting and even a themed menu. You can add a magical feel to the evening by draping strands of lights in the trees and along your fence. Many backyard lights are even solar-powered, so they’ll flicker on in time for golden hour and add a fairy-like glow to your gathering. And about that menu ... setting up your meal as a “station” where people can serve themselves, like a salad bar, is an easy way to accommodate food allergies and preferences while still offering a variety of choices.

3. Reclaim the golden hour from mosquitos.

Nothing puts a damper on an outdoor party like a swarm of mosquitos descending at golden hour, that period between day and night in which everything just seems to glow with soft light. It’s the most beautiful time of day, but it’s also a peak time for mosquito activity, which causes many people to retreat indoors.

In fact, up to 40% of people have even skipped out-

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door events to avoid dealing with insects1. Adding OFF!® Clean Feel products to your outdoor routine can help you enjoy sunset and the rest of the night longer. OFF!® Clean Feel aerosols and pump sprays are easy to use and provide long-lasting protection for up to eight hours from mosquitoes. OFF!® Clean Feel Gel is another fragrance-free option perfect for everyday use because it feels good on skin and will help protect you from mosquitoes.

4. Set up entertainment. If you have the space for an after-dinner activity, you can drape a sheet along your fence or house for an easy projector screen. At sundown, transform your space with comfy pillows, a projector, speakers and cables for a perfect at-home movie night.

5. Draw the evening to a close around your firepit. Everyone loves sitting around a cozy firepit on a summer night. Pre-stack your firepit with wood so all you’ll need to do is light it. Add to the fun by stocking up a tray with ingredients for s’mores (including skewers for roasting the marshmallows!), or try using a grated top for your firepit to grill peaches, watermelon or pineapple to serve with ice cream. Bonus tip: Have cozy throws or long-sleeved wraps on hand for your guests who might get chilly.

Take back the golden hour from mosquitos and enjoy these balmy evenings with family and friends.

By banishing the bugs, you’ll make the most of summer!— 1 Random double-opt-in survey of 2,000 Americans conducted by OnePoll on behalf of OFF!® Brand between July 27-28, 2023.

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